Makati closes off Paseo de Roxas to celebrate its first culinary street party for food lovers, kids and families

Last July 3, Makati closed off a strip of Paseo de Roxas and hosted the first Block Party that brought gastronomic delights, a kiddie fun fair and great entertainment for all.

Makati once again proved its distinct city vibe and vibrant community spirit by transforming its iconic business avenues into a culinary street party – a first in the city.

The Makati Block Party featured well-loved food vendors of the valued, celebrated city tradition, the Salcedo Community Market.

The event is part of the city’s efforts to increase its walkability by giving the community a reason to head out, walk and enjoy the streets. The initiative was further taken a notch higher with the partial road closure of Paseo de Roxas, one of the busiest streets of Makati, for the culinary street experience. Despite the downpour of rain, the streets came alive as people actively used the pedestrian-friendly streets to enjoy the mouthwatering food, feel good music and entertaining activities for kids. Friends, couples and families alike simply walked around to take part in the exciting activities the Makati Block Party offered.

From 4:00 in the afternoon until 10:00 in the evening, Paseo de Roxas, the stretch between Ayala Avenue to Makati Avenue, became a haven for all foodies and families who came to enjoy the block party. The streets were filled with cheerful vendors who served up their signature Salcedo Market offerings, from American, Persian, Italian to all-time favorite Filipino artisanal delights and hometown delicacies – name it, they had it! Given the hip community vibe that is distinctly Makati’s, the gastronomic festival was also filled with lots of fun, engaging activities. Kids had the time of their lives with the activities Kids on the Block prepared. Creativity and innovation were unleashed through art sessions, story-telling, crown and instrument-making, upcycling and more. When it was time to meet and greet their favorite characters Snoopy and the Lorax, everyone’s faces showed that excitement was hard to contain! To cap off the night and pair the sumptuous food with great ambience, Block Party-goers were treated to the jazz musical stylings of Vince Lahorra’s Quartet and the soothing voice of acoustic performer Johnoy Danao.

“We feel very happy that the first Makati Block Party was well-received by the community. It has been our goal ever since to keep the people closer through projects and events that can make everyone come together in one place. This culinary street party is just one of our efforts to encourage the people of Makati to use the streets more and make them realize that there are a lot of undiscovered experiences just around the corner,” said Shiella Aguilar, Project Development Manager of Makati.

The Makati Block Party once again proved Makati as the one-stop destination for the best food, quality entertainment and extensive lifestyle offerings – all just a few blocks away.

“Makati is one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the country and we will definitely continue to take advantage of this by pioneering events and activities that people will surely enjoy,” said Aguilar.

Kids On The Block activities by Hunt and Gather included Painting with Learning on the Gogh, Crown Making with Little Luli, Decoupage and Upcycling Activities with La Pomme Home, Free Play and Active Fun by Playworks ECC, and Science, Art and Music with Hedcen.